St. George's Church, Pontesbury,
Shropshire, England
History & Guide to St. George’s Church, PontesburyIntroduction
St George's Church from the north Ecclesiastical HistoryPontesberie is mentioned in the Domesday Book and was rated for Danegeld at four hides and a half with another one hide and a half which did not pay the tax. The church is not mentioned specifically but it is suspected that this one hide and a half of the Manor was church land. The Church is first named in 1254 and Reynald (Reginald), parson of Pontesbury, is the first known incumbent in the early 13th century. The original Church may have been dedicated to St. Bartholomew. A Collegiate Church of St. George, Pontesbury was built around 1250 on the site of the old Saxon Minster, and from it a College of Priests served the very large area of Pontesbury Parish.
The pre 1825 Church by D Parkes (1824) Until the early 20th century, the parish of Pontesbury was divided into three Portions, Rectories, or Prebends, each with its own Rector. The Rector of the First, or David (named after David son of Reginald who was rector between about 1277 and 1300) or Decanal portion, was styled the Dean and lived in the Deanery, located to the west of the Church. At least 3 buildings have been known; the first which was demolished by 1712 and the second which was demolished in 1965 to make way for the present dwelling of the same name, standing on the original site. The Rector of the Second, or Nicholas (named after the Incumbent in 1292) or Child’s Hall portion, lived in the Manor House, built in 1770, which stood behind the Deanery until it was demolished in 1977. It had been sold in 1964 having ceased to be a parsonage for several years. A 5-bay tithe barn stood in the old garden of the house and could be seen from Hall Bank, the roadway behind the Church, until it was demolished earlier in 1983. The Third Rector, that of Ratford (Robert de Ratford was incumbent in 1292) or Cold Hall, lived for a while in the Old Rectory, sited at the bottom of Pontesbury Hill and afterwards in various larger houses in the district. The Old Rectory is pre-18th century and additions were made to it in the 19th century; in parts it is of cruck construction and another tithe barn stands close by.
Leland, whose ‘Itinery’ was compiled shortly before his death in 1552 states that in the Church of Ponsbyri is a Deane and 3 Prebendaries”; but this statement is probably erroneous. Whilst there were three Prebends or Portions, apart from Leland’s statement there is no mention of a Dean of any College here. However, Pontesbury did give its name to the Rural Deanery and one of the Portionists no doubt very often filled the office of Rural Dean. The First Portionist appears to have enjoyed a vague precedence in the later Middle Ages. He was styled Dean of Pontesbury between 1394 and 1540, but the rector of the third portion was styled Dean for a short while in 1277. Until 1840 the First Portionist was responsible for the Service of the Church for 26 weeks in each year and the Second and Third Portioners for 13 weeks each. Although all three Portioners were involved in proceedings in the consistory court in 1277-78 (apparently due to a feud between the lord of the manor and the rector of the third portion) this arrangement worked satisfactorily until the early 19th century. A clash of personalities between the reforming Charles Drury (rector of the second portion, 1824-68) and the conservative Hamlet Harrison (rector of the first portion, 1809-43), came to a head over Drury’s proposals in 1837 to erect a Chapel of ease for the second portion at Cruckton, to serve hamlets in the east of the parish, whose inhabitants were unable to attend the parish church in Pontesbury. Harrison refused his consent to the scheme and the Third Portionist, William Vaughan, felt obliged to respect the wishes of his patron, E. W. Smythe Owen, who opposed anything likely to alter the value of his advowson. Nevertheless, Cruckton Chapel was constructed in 1838 and opened in 1840. Also in 1840, the Bishop of Hereford issued a decree apportioning spiritual duties within the parish, though its primary object was to regularize the Chapel’s position. Hamlet Harrison objected to the decree but was overruled. This decree was the principal reason for almost continual friction between the Portioners in the later 19th and early 20th centuries. In 1985 the Cruckton chapel was declared redundant and closed; the pastoral care of the area was passed to the parish of Great Hanwood. The position was further complicated by Drury’s successor, S. J. Hawkes (second Portion), who built a Chapel at Lea Cross in 1888. Intended as a memorial to his mother, this building became a proprietary chapel (licensed but unconsecrated by the bishop). Hawkes wished the chapel at Lea Cross to take the place of Cruckton Chapel, since he did not consider the latter well sited to serve his portion. However, the Lea Cross Chapel stood on ground assigned to the third portion in 1840, and its anomalous position prompted yet more division particularly a proposal to adjust the territories of all three portions. At this time the rector of the third portion looked after the area around Halston, Oaks, and Radlith and was responsible for the Services at Longden Chapel which became a parish in its own right in 1935. History tells us that this division of the parish into three portions is comparatively rare and unusual. The first and second portions were merged in 1909 which reduced the area of disagreement somewhat. A small brick Mission Chapel at Asterley was built by the Third Portionist in 1869; it was declared redundant and closed in 1990. You can download a list of all the incumbents here... The ChurchyardGood views of the church can be seen from the village, the church itself being on one of the highest points of the village.
St George's Church from the east The churchyard is circular which usually indicates a very ancient site. Of particular interest are the large yew trees and the classical iron tomb of Hamlet Harrison dated 1843 located near the eastern gateway. He and other members of his family were incumbents for most of the 19th century. The churchyard was enlarged in 1856, in which year burials within the church were prohibited; however, by 1875 this was proving inadequate and a proposal was made to convert Lea Cross School into a cemetery chapel (which was not approved). Burials in the churchyard were discontinued in 1902, when land for a new cemetery in the village was provided by the rector of the first portion opposite Linley Avenue. Church ExteriorBefore 1825 the medieval Church consisted of a chancel, nave, north and south aisles and a northern tower. The tower and probably the nave were built in the 12th century. The chancel was a fine example of Norman work and was originally separate from the main body of the church – see the 1824 drawing by D Parkes. Of the two aisles, that on the north was probably constructed in the earlier 13th century. It was under the same roof as the nave, while the south aisle, which probably had a separate roof, was added in the early 14th century.
St George's Church from the south east Concern for the stability of the Church was felt as early as 1772 and, in 1810-11, local architects were called in to examine the fabric. Soon after this the tower collapsed and in 1825 what remained of the nave and aisles were taken down. Courses of stonework at ground level, however, are still in evidence on the exterior of the church. A substantial body of parishioners wished to take advantage of this by erecting three smaller churches in the parish, bringing to an end the anomalous system of serving the living. This was opposed by the rector of the first portion (Hamlet Harrison), who seems to have been responsible for the choice of the new nave and aisles, which were produced by John Turner of Whitchurch. The rector of the second portion (Charles Drury) favoured a plan for a cruciform church, with a central tower; put forward by Carline of Shrewsbury. In the end a single new church was built at a cost of £5,000 most of which was raised by loans and mortgages and was opened in 1829. A brief had been issued for £3,500 in 1825 and £200 of the cost was provided by the Church Building Society, another £200 from the Michel Foundation of Queen’s College Oxford, as the present board on the north aisle wall shows. Turner died before the church’s completion and he was succeeded as architect by Samuel Smith of Madeley. It was built in the Early English Style and contained, like the former church, a nave with north and south aisles and a porch on the south wall, but the tower was set against the south-west end of the nave. The red sandstone of the former church was re-used in some parts of the fabric, which was elsewhere built of yellowish stone rubble with dressings of Grinshill stone. The chancel arch was rebuilt, but no other alterations were made to the fabric of the chancel. No significant Structural changes have been made to the church since. In 1897 the body of the church was restored at a cost of £600 when the plaster was removed from the walls of the nave, colouring formerly applied to the arcades was stripped, and the brick window arches were encased in cement. Minor alterations were made to the fabric of the chancel in 1904, at a cost of £600, when its roof was restored. Improvements to the west end of the nave were proposed at the same time but were not put into effect. The panelled wooden ceilings of the nave and aisles, however, appear to date from 1904. The Church InteriorThe West End RoomYou now enter the church through the new West End room created in 2003, in the space left by the removal of two rows of pews. In 2001, the Church Council decided that the Deanery Hall, which is located east of the church, was no longer viable as a meeting place. It had served the parish as a social centre for a century but was costing too much to maintain. The Diocese, the owners, sold it for redevelopment. Furthermore, the church’s central position in the life of the village both for worship and for social purposes was recognized and it was decided to provide a facility which will enable the Church to continue to provide the care and service the community.
The Screen built to form 'The West End Room' The new room incorporates a children’s room, and toilet facilities including disabled access. It is screened from the body of the church with double glazing, the panels of which incorporate dedications to local families and church organizations. The central doors to the nave are decorated with an image of St. George on the south side and St. Chad (St. Chad’s College, Durham is the patron of the church). A new heating system for the room has been installed to give added control and reduce running costs, and the audio system, which includes a loop for those using hearing aids, has been modified with added speakers in the new rooms so that the overall seating capacity of the church has not been significantly reduced. Choir vestryThe lower outer part of the partition to the choir vestry is almost certainly made from panels from the eighteenth century box pews which were removed in 1897. This vestry was converted to serve as a kitchen and meeting room as well as a choir vestry in November1998. The NaveLittle is known of the internal appearance of the former church. The pulpit and reading desk stood at the east end of the nave, close to the arcade of the north aisle. Pews at the east end of the north and south aisles were set crosswise, to face the pulpit and were described as ‘the aisle leading to the belfry’ and ‘the cross aisle’ respectively. As mentioned previously the church was almost entirely rebuilt except for the chancel, the work being finished in 1829. When the nave and aisles were rebuilt all their former fittings were deemed the property of the builders. The nave is separated from the two aisles by five bays, and the piers used are so short that they stand on tall bases which were useful for the original box Pews. These piers are of red and not buff stone like the rest of the nave and aisles and the arches are very similar to the chancel arch, this being tall and wide with two bold quadrant mouldings.
The old layout in the nave The nave, now 21.60m x 20.04m (70ft 10in x 65ft 9in) [compared with the old nave including aisles 23.32m x 17.73m (76ft 6in by 58ft 2in)] contains much of interest. You can download the seating layout in the church (c 1830) here... The Classical style gallery, now mostly hidden by the ceiling of the West End Room but who’s appearance is mirrored by that of the new screen, was erected at the west end in 1754 (it presumably survived the collapse and was rescued to be incorporated in the new church) and the church was re-pewed with box pews in 1782-82. The interesting 19th century seating-plan at the West end of the nave gives more information of the internal appearance of the church after rebuilding. The old Norman font, formerly at the West end, was moved close to its original location in 2003 - in centre of the aisle - is of a good size with deep scalloping below the bowl.
The Font at St George's The font, which may not have originally been in the church, was bought by Charles Drury (Rector of the second portion); it was repaired and restored to the church in 1857. The repair to this 12th century article can be seen with the larger darker piece of stonework below the bowl. The pews date from 1897; these replaced taller box type which reached to the height where the pillars change shape. Older Jacobean woodwork from the earlier church had been employed as panelling in these box pews. Some of this panelling may have been used in the construction of the west screen below the organ gallery. A large three-decker pulpit was set up at the south east end of the nave in 1829 and remained in use until 1904, when the present smaller pulpit was erected at the north east end. The nave altar is Jacobean and was originally a wooden Communion table which had been standing long out of use in the sanctuary, until it was brought forward for prominent use in today’s Eucharist Services. On the south side is a brass litany with the following inscription: To the Glory of God in memory of Eliza Mary Heighway who died June 17 1889 Also of Francis Catherine Heighway who died February 27 1886 Both of Pontesford in this Parish. A small organ which was presented to the church in 1861, and which had previously, been in Harrow School, was replaced by a large, 3-manual, electro-pneumatic organ given by Heighway Jones. This had come from the Music Hall in Shrewsbury in 1908 and was moved to the front of the west end gallery in 1910. The current organ was rebuilt in 1977 with an electromagnetic action. The pipes are in the West end gallery originally blocked the west window, they were opened up to let the evening light flood in and i luminate the gold of the reredos, the console being placed at the north-east end of the nave. The AislesThe south aisle contains the Memorial Chapel and the British Legion Standards of the Pontesbury Branch. The north aisle and the Lady Chapel contain more of interest. In this aisle can be seen the Eubank Window, commemorating Richard Eubank, a rector of the parish between 1922 and 1931. It shows the Annunciation, the Nativity, the Falling Asleep, and the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Next to this can be seen the Aumbry currently in use in which the Reserved Sacrament is kept. A light burns continually in front of it to remind us that consecrated bread and wine are within. The ChancelThis was built in the 13th century and survived the collapse of the tower. It has remained substantially unaltered although it was restored in 1904. It is a spacious structure about 12.25m (50ft) long and 6.60m (21ft 6in) broad, dating from the Decorated Period. The restoration is commemorated in the stained glass East window and the upper sections of the window depict the figures of Christ the King of Glory with the four Archangels; Michael, Raphael, Gabriel and Uriel. The windows below were installed at the 1904 restoration and all show bishops. Their names are inscribed in Hebrew. On the far left is Bishop Percival of Hereford, Bishop when the window was put in. Next to this is St. Thomas de Cantilupe of Hereford, who died in 1282 and can be seen holding a replica of the medieval Pontesbury church, he was Bishop of Hereford when the medieval church was built. The figure in the centre of the row is St. Thomas a’ Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury in the 12th century. To the right of the central figure stand two former rectors, Lewis de Charleton (rector 1340) and Thomas de Charleton (rector 1352). Both were subsequently Bishops of Hereford. Their families were lords of the manor. The Rood Screen, with its inscription: ‘Boldness to enter the holiest by the blood of Jesus’, and the choir stalls on the north side were inserted at the restoration by S.J. Hawkes. Note, at the entrance to the chancel, the covered wooden heads on either side of the arch. Bishops’ heads face East and Kings’ West, depicting the significance of the early layout of the church: the chancel was for the clergy and the nave for the rest. The relationship between Hawkes, incumbent of the Second Portion who had a pulpit on the north side, and Harrison, incumbent of the First Portion whose pulpit was on the south side, were strained and so he declined to sponsor pews on the south. Brass plates carry these inscriptions: To Him will I give my house without walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters. and: Dedicated as a thank offering for the privilege of ministering for 50 years the Gospel of the Grace of God. Romans XV 16. S. J. Hawkes. The pews on the south side were provided by Rev. W Harrison in the second half of the 19th century. The early 17th century oak panelling around the walls, re-using sides to the box pews, was set up shortly before 1917. A marble-topped table with a Classical reredos, installed shortly before 1788, was in use until 1886 when a new Communion altar and canopied marble reredos (a memorial to Mrs F. Barber Harrison) was installed by the rector of the first portion and her brothers, Bishop Lightfoot of Durham and the vicar of Cartnel and constructed by G. Street. The altar was built by Walter Clement and carved by his wife, Dorothea, at their studio in Grove lane. Their friend Fredrick Carter painted the three panels depicting Mary and the child Jesus m the centre with St. Peter holding the keys and St. Paul holding the sword of evangelism on either side. The backgrounds to the figures depict scenes from the local Shropshire hills showing the message of the Kingdom of God is as appropriate for Shropshire as for Galilee. Note the symbolic carving and inlay work of the altar.
Of special interest in the chancel is the aumbry where consecrated bread and wine were kept for taking to the sick. The door is dated 1652 and bears the initials HP, HH and WF. The door is a shouldered arch, so called because of its shape. It is to be found in castles both in Wales and Scotland dating from the reign of Edward I. This type of arch was employed by Master James of St. George, builder to the king. The piscina opposite to the aumbry is of the same age as the chancel, and is in a usual position. It possesses a trefoil arch and a deep basin partly corbelled out. Here unused water from the Holy Communion Service was tipped and discarded. Also in the south wall of the chancel is a priest’s doorway, which has a simple drop-arch. The roof displays the common trussed rafter roof of seven cants with a cornice, on both sides carrying a dog-tooth ornament, denoting the beginning of the Decorated period before all Early English forms had disappeared. There are also a number of monuments from the 10th century onwards. The two most interesting are against the north wall. One is a brass commemorating Owen Davis who died in 1596. The other commemorates Thomas Davies, merchant of London who left money to Christ’s Hospital, and who died in 1574. This has at the sides two female figures, one with two children and the other holding an anchor. At the bottom in the ‘predalla’ is a ship in full sail with a favourable wind blowing. The three carvings represent Faith, Hope, and Charity. However the monument is of a mid-18th century date and character, and was in fact erected by his grandson Other monuments and windows include those to members of the Heighway and Harrison families, both of which were prominent in the church’s history. The windows, starting at the North West depict scenes relating to the birth of Jesus at Bethlehem and ending with his baptism in the river Jordan. Note how the artist has drawn the water of the river. Note too the inscription to the window of the child Jesus in the carpenter’s shop‘ To one of Australia’s pioneers’. Many local people emigrated to the new world because of poor farming opportunities etc. here. The Tower.This is of four stages, the belfry stage being exceptionally high, with pairs of corner buttresses added later for stability. It is over 30m (100’) high and was designed by John Turner in the ‘Gothic Revival’ style and is often described as ‘handsome’ by many sources. It is an outstanding local landmark. The former medieval church tower, was 8.3m by 7.5m (277’ by 24’ 5”), and contained five bells cast by Thomas Roberts of, Shrewsbury. They survived the tower’s collapse and today are the sole remaining examples of Robert’s work After the new tower had been built the ring was augmented to six in 1869. The bells are hung low in the top stage of the tower, the belfry, and the tenor (heaviest bell) is slantwise in the middle as at Ditton Priors Church.
Working on the tower, early 20th century Details of the bells with inscriptions, weights, and notes: Treble, Mears and Stainbank, Founders, London,1869 260.4kg 5cwt, 141b D# 2 William Medlicot, Nicholas Brockson, Wardens 1891* 304.8kg 6cwt C# 3 William Medlicot, Nicholas Broxton, Wardens, 1681 355.6kg 7cwt B 4 William Medlicot, Nicholas Broxton, Wardens, 1681 508kg 10cwt A# 5 William Medlicot, Nicholas Broxton, Wardens, 1681 508kg 10cwt G# Tenor William Medlicot, Nicholas Broxton, Wardens, 1681 660.4kg 13cwt F# *The date on the second is inverted (1891). Also on the Tenor, on the waist, and cutting into the lines below the other inscription is the inscription: THO. ROBERTS OF SALOP CAST THESE FIVE The bells have numerous mouldings and the inscription on the tenor is set low down with the three lines above and below. The clappers in all the bells terminate in double balls. A curfew bell was being rung in Pontesbury from the 5th November until Christmas in the early 19th century, and the unusual custom of tolling 13 times at a man’s funeral and 12 for a woman’s was still observed c. 1900. This custom of tolling on the morning of the event is probably unique, with the number of tolls. Other customs included ringing on New Year’s Eve at midnight, and also at weddings, confirmations, and special occasions. (These customs have now been re-introduced). Ringing for Sunday Services also took place with chiming at 8.00am after which the day of the month was tolled. There was a clock in the tower in 1788, while the present one, made in Whitchurch by J B Joyce, was bought and inserted in 1858.
The clock mechanism by J B Joyce
The drop weights which drive the mechanism To wind the clock for 7 days, the winder will climb 57 narrow steps to the clock room, then wind each of the heavy weights 56 revolutions, better exercise than a morning in the gym!
The tenor bell is used by the clock to strike the hours. The bell ringers, must always remember to pull the clock chiming mechanism away from the tenor bell before ringing commences, and of course, it is vital to replace the ringer when leaving the ringing floor. The Church Registers:The Registers are complete from the date of 1538 (the year when the King’s injunction was published, compelling the parish record to be kept) which is quite rare in this area of Shropshire. The original entries are in Latin. During the Commonwealth, births were recorded rather than baptisms. Today the registers are in the safe keeping of the County Archives in Shrewsbury. References:
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